priebe@noscvax.UUCP (Carey E. Priebe) (06/24/85)
Although my Tigers won better than 195 games the last two years, and trounced the entire majors last year, they had *serious* pitching problems to deal with. It's hard to imagine that such a powerful team could have just two starting pitchers better than *Juan Berenguer* after such a fabulous two-year stretch. Had they not aquired Walt Terrell (a Godsend) I don't see how, even with a big five of Trammell, Whitaker, Gibson, Parrish, & Evans (he's come around), they could be challenging. Now, however, Sparkey's group is ready to go on a tear. In case you haven't heard, Frank Tanana pitched 7 innings of shutout ball last night. He should give us a fourth starter (lefty, too) who, in conjunction with Petry, Morris, and Terrell, finishes out one of the best rotations in the majors. My point, or one of them, is this. The Tigers' front office certainly played heads-up ball in filling out a rotation that had a fabulous nucleus but lacked depth sorely. Thanx Texas & NYMets. cp When the going gets tough, the tough remember '76, when Detroit lost 19 straight -- Carey Priebe mail: priebe@cod.UUCP
mlt@mb2c.UUCP (Mark L. Tompkins) (06/27/85)
>It's hard to imagine that such a powerful team could have just two starting >pitchers better than *Juan Berenguer* after such a fabulous two-year stretch. I assume you didn't include Milt Wilcox because of his many arm problems this year, but he was 17-7 last season. >Had they not acquired Walt Terrell... No kidding! They would be nowhere near the top of the East without him. One of the best trades the Tigers have made in a few years. Walt is 8-3 thus far, and when you add Morris and Petry ( both 9-5 ), that's a pretty tough top three. But that's not all... >..............................................In case you haven't >heard, Frank Tanana pitched 7 innings of shutout ball last night. He should >give us a fourth starter (lefty,too) who, in conjunction with Petry, Morris, >and Terrell, finishes out one of the best rotations in the majors. Without question. Tanana was another excellent acquisition, especially when you consider the Tigers only gave up a AA pitcher in return. The problem is, however, that Frank will be the Tigers' fifth starter, because of the tremen- dous efforts of one Randy O'Neill. Thus far, he is 3-1 with a very low ERA. The game he did lose was a 2-1 decision to New York - the Yankees scored the game-winner in the ninth onolen base, an intentional walk, a wild pitch, and a base hit. Last night O'Neill shut out the Bosox at Fenway for 7 before Hernandez finished up. He is looking really good. If his name sounds familiar, it's because he won the game that clinched the AL East last season. My only question is: Where does Wilcox fit in, if at all? Mark